The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-09-03
TEA ADULTERATION.
Inferior Grades Improved by the Free Use
of Poisonous Chemicals.


of Poisonous Chemicals.
During the last twelve months there
has been a marked increase in the
consumption of tea in this country. 1t
is estimated that about two million
more pounds were sold this year
than last. As result demand
for cheap priced teas has arisen, and
this has induced adulteration to very
large extent. Along with the adulter-
alton, too, is the free use of chemicals
to improve the appearance of inferior
grades, These, in many cases, are in
furious to the system, and are some
times used in such quantities as to prove
serious irritants. A case of poisoning
of this kind was reported recently, and
physicians say that the nervousness
which some think is caused by drink
ing tea freely, is in reality the effect of
adulterants.
A tea dealer in this city gave the
writer some facts concerning Tea
adulteration. He said: "a great de-
mand for cheap teas began with the sys-
tenn of giving presents with it in retail
tea stores, of which there are now
very many. All sorts of expedients
are adopted to reduce the price of
tea brought to this country. The
principal form was that known as Iie
tea or false tea 1t is just what its
name implies. 1t consists of any non
poisonous leaves rolled up and dried so
rs to resemble real tea, and mixed with
inferior tea leaves. In China the chill
dren are sent out IN the early spring to
gather the young leaves just when they
are beginning to grow. These are
rolled up in the same way as tea leaves.
The mixture can only be detected by
an expert, and considerable quantities
of it were sold in this country prior to
the establishment (made necessary by
its importation) of a tea inspector at
this port few years ago.
Another common form of adultera-
ton consists of using exhausted tea
leaves. These are dried and rolled NJ
again into their former shape. They
have to be colored slightly, and Their
form an adulterant almost impossible o.
detection. This manner of reducing
the cost of tea is frequently resorted t
in this city so as to avoid the scrutiny
of the Inspector As none but the
natives is familiar with the regular
methods of coloring teas, these ex
hausted teas when made up in thi
country are treated often with danger
Gus chemicals and coloring matters.
''In teas such as gunpowders, where
the leaf is rolled up into small, rounC
particles, the natives simply use muc
as an adulterant. When it is mixed "
with the tea the pieces of dry earth cal
scarcely be noticed.
But the most dangerous thing t,
the consumer of tea are the eXpedient
that are used for improving the ap
pearance of the inferior teas. As
rule, a well-looking tea is preferred
and consequently every effort is direct
ed to give it an attractive appearance
Black teas are generally safe enough
being un,olore6. Green teas, how
ever. are artificially colored. Highly
polished, b.uisn-looking leaves are, a
, rule, the most dangerous. being S
m de by chemicals. Indigo is niue
. used to impart this tint, but man
think it i more readily attained b
Prussiah b lie. Very minute quaint
ties are used. of course, but tea culnre
in tuis way can hardly fail to pro,
dert,r.ouS if much of it i { kcr
, Cop Ct also is used for the M WI
pc. = ~. /. L0"Hlsi,ia N.t-sic